Denial of Service - Computer Definition

A type of crack attack that makes it
difficult, if not impossible, for valid system users to access their computer or particular services—such as
Web applications—on a computer. This inaccessibility is typically achieved by
overloading the target system with invalid, unexpected, or malformed data. DoS attacks are becoming more and more
common today, hampering businesses, government agencies, and educational and
medical institutions from performing their tasks effectively, safely, and
efficiently. According to the U.S. Department of Justice survey, in 2004 DoS
attacks cost about $24 million to companies. In May 2005, a New Jersey teenaged
cracker by the name of Jasmine Singh (a.k.a. Jatt and Pherk) pleaded guilty to
carrying out DoS attacks against a Delran, New Jersey, online clothing store
and 2,000 other online businesses between July and December, 2004, resulting in
estimated business losses of $1 million. Singh used a botnet (a number of computers connected to the Internet,
controlled from a single location without the owner of these computers being
aware of this fact) to flood the targeted computers. Apparently Singh was hired
over the Internet by an 18-year-old Michigan male, Jason Arabo, who had his own
online retro-sports clothing company. Arabo wanted Singh to cause damage to his
online competitors through the DoS exploits, and in exchange for his cyber
duties, Arabo would “pay” Singh in terms of sneakers, jewelry, and sports
clothing. Singh was convicted and sentenced to 5 years at the Garden State
Youth Correctional Facility in Yardville.